USRE30626E - Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens - Google Patents
Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- USRE30626E USRE30626E US06/075,611 US7561179A USRE30626E US RE30626 E USRE30626 E US RE30626E US 7561179 A US7561179 A US 7561179A US RE30626 E USRE30626 E US RE30626E
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- coating
- core
- carbide
- tungsten
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000007740 vapor deposition Methods 0.000 title 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- UONOETXJSWQNOL-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten carbide Chemical compound [W+]#[C-] UONOETXJSWQNOL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229910003468 tantalcarbide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- UNASZPQZIFZUSI-UHFFFAOYSA-N methylidyneniobium Chemical compound [Nb]#C UNASZPQZIFZUSI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- NFFIWVVINABMKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N methylidynetantalum Chemical compound [Ta]#C NFFIWVVINABMKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- MTPVUVINMAGMJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N trimethyl(1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethyl)silane Chemical compound C[Si](C)(C)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)F MTPVUVINMAGMJL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- QYEXBYZXHDUPRC-UHFFFAOYSA-N B#[Ti]#B Chemical compound B#[Ti]#B QYEXBYZXHDUPRC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 229910033181 TiB2 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000011819 refractory material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003870 refractory metal Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 239000012808 vapor phase Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 229910001507 metal halide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 2
- 150000005309 metal halides Chemical class 0.000 claims 2
- -1 tungsten halide Chemical class 0.000 claims 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 9
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 8
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000005229 chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 4
- NXHILIPIEUBEPD-UHFFFAOYSA-H tungsten hexafluoride Chemical compound F[W](F)(F)(F)(F)F NXHILIPIEUBEPD-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 4
- 238000010000 carbonizing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004663 powder metallurgy Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- HSFWRNGVRCDJHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N alpha-acetylene Natural products C#C HSFWRNGVRCDJHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001273 butane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000001311 chemical methods and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000002534 ethynyl group Chemical group [H]C#C* 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001307 helium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052734 helium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium atom Chemical compound [He] SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001247 metal acetylides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-butane Chemical compound CCCC IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-pentane Natural products CCCCC OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- YHBDIEWMOMLKOO-UHFFFAOYSA-I pentachloroniobium Chemical compound Cl[Nb](Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl YHBDIEWMOMLKOO-UHFFFAOYSA-I 0.000 description 1
- 238000007747 plating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- OEIMLTQPLAGXMX-UHFFFAOYSA-I tantalum(v) chloride Chemical compound Cl[Ta](Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl OEIMLTQPLAGXMX-UHFFFAOYSA-I 0.000 description 1
- XJDNKRIXUMDJCW-UHFFFAOYSA-J titanium tetrachloride Chemical compound Cl[Ti](Cl)(Cl)Cl XJDNKRIXUMDJCW-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
- B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
- B43K1/00—Nibs; Writing-points
- B43K1/08—Nibs; Writing-points with ball points; Balls or ball beds
- B43K1/082—Balls
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
- C23C16/442—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating using fluidised bed process
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49712—Ball making
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
- Y10T428/2982—Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
- Y10T428/2991—Coated
Definitions
- the highest quality balls or spheres consist of tungsten carbide.
- tungsten carbide balls are presently fabricated by means of powder metallurgy.
- a suitable powder consisting, for example, of tungsten carbide and cobalt is cold pressed and then heated until the powder sinters or fuses together.
- a small ball may be manufactured with a cobalt binder.
- the resulting ball is still somewhat porous.
- due to the porosity of the ball and the presence of cobalt in the interstices of the tungsten carbide grains making up the ball the ball can be chemically attacked by the various inks used in ball point pens.
- balls produced by powder metallurgy are not sufficiently spherical. As a result they require a considerable amount of rough grinding so that they become sufficiently spherical for the finish grinding steps.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball of the type discussed consisting of a core with a coating obtained by chemical vapor deposition and which can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.
- a ball which is particularly suitable for a ball point pen.
- the ball comprises a core which consists of a refractory material capable of withstanding a temperature in excess of 800° C. (centigrade).
- the material of the core should also be compatible with the coating.
- the coating on the core is deposited by chemical vapor deposition so that core and coating have a combined diameter between approximately 0.5 and approximately 1 mm in diameter.
- the finished product is substantially spherical.
- the core consists of tungsten and the vapor deposited coating of tungsten carbide.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-section on enlarged scale of a ball or sphere in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an induction heated fluid bed reactor for the chemical vapor deposition of a coating on the core;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a tumbling reactor which may be used instead for providing the coating on a suitable core.
- FIG. 1 there is shown on enlarged scale a substantially spherical ball 10 which is suitable for ball point pens and the like.
- the ball consists of a core 11 and a coating 12 which has been deposed thereon by chemical vapor deposition.
- the core 11 may consist of tungsten obtained, for example, in the form of a powder of approximately 325 mesh.
- Such a ball may, for example, be manufactured in the graphite tube 14 shown in FIG. 2.
- the graphite tube 14 may be heated inductively by an induction coil 15 as shown.
- a fluidizing gas is introduced into the bottom portion of the graphite tube 14 through an input tube 16 as shown by the arrow 17.
- This gas may consist of a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas such as argon, helium or nitrogen.
- the interior of the graphite tube 14 is partially filled with the tungsten cores or seeds shown at 20.
- the tube is now heated to a temperature between approximately 500° C. and 950° C.
- tungsten hexafluoride WF 6
- a suitable carborizing gas such as methane (CH 4 ), butane (C 4 H 10 ), acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) or the like.
- This mixture of tungsten hexafluoride and a carbonizing gas is injected through the input tube 16 into the graphite tube 14, where the gas passes through the suspended seeds 20.
- the thickness of the coating depends both on the time the reaction takes place, as well as on the reaction temperature.
- the particles or cores are allowed to grow until they have reached a predetermined diameter. For example, if the tungsten hexafluoride and carbonizing gas are reacted at 950° C. for six hours the diameter of a sphere may increase from 100 microns to 1 millimeter.
- the balls produced as explained herein have a much higher initial sphericity than balls obtained by a powder metallurgy technique. They, of course do not contain any cobalt and have virtually no porosity. Hence they are basically not subject to chemical attack by the inks used in ball point pens.
- the induction heating furnace of FIG. 2 is provided with an exit tube 22 which may be connected to a vacuum pump as shown by the arrow 23.
- reaction tumbler of FIG. 3 may be used for the same process.
- the tumbler consists again of a graphite cylinder 25 surrounded by induction coils 26 for heating the tumbler.
- the gases are introduced through the inlet tube 27 as shown by arrow 28, while the exit tube 30 connects to a vacuum pump as shown by the arrow 31.
- the chemical process is otherwise the same except that the cylinder 25 is rotated as indicated by the arrow 33.
- the tumbling reactor of FIG. 3 has the advantage that it allows plating of a larger number of balls for each batch.
- the core 11 consist of tungsten. Instead it may consist of nickel, copper or molybdenum. Alternatively, the core may consist of a ceramic such as aluminum oxide (AL 2 O 3 ) or graphite. The main requirement for the core is that it is capable of withstanding the chemical vapor deposition temperatures which can exceed 900° C. In addition, the core should be compatible with the coating to be deposited.
- the coating may consist of a suitable carbide besides tungsten carbide.
- carbides are niobium carbide, titanium carbide or tantalum carbide.
- a metal boride may be used such as titanium diboride.
- titanium carbide In order to manufacture titanium carbide a temperature of between approximately 800° and approximately 1300° C. may be used.
- the chemical reaction may proceed as follows:
- the starting material is titanium tetrachloride.
- reaction temperature is between approximately 900° C. and 1400° C. and the reaction is as follows:
- the starting material is tantalum pentachloride.
- reaction temperature is between 900° and approximately 1400° C.
- chemical reaction is as follows:
- the starting material is niobium pentachloride.
- the carbon (C) in formulas (2) to (5) may again be obtained from a carbonizing gas as mentioned before.
- a core consisting of a nickel sphere of 0.7 mm diameter.
- the coating may again consist of tungsten carbide and may have a thickness so that the diameter of the finished sphere is somewhat greater than 1 mm corresponding to a pen ball having a diameter of one millimeter.
- the thickness of the coating should be in any case no less than 50 microns. It may be necessary to lap or grind the finished ball to insure that it is perfectly spherical. In this case the coating may have to be somewhat thicker to make up for the loss of thickness due to the lapping or grinding.
- the spheres of the present invention are characterized by a core covered with a coating obtained by chemical vapor deposition. They are substantially without pores and do not contain cobalt and hence the finished product substantially is not subject to corrosion or other chemical attack by the various inks used in ball point pens.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
- Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
Abstract
A sphere particularly suitable for ball point pens having a core capable of withstanding temperature in excess of 800° C. and a chemically vapor deposited coating on the core, the combined diameter of core and coating ranging from approximately 0.5 to approximately 1 mm in diameter. For example, the core may consist of a metal such as tungsten, nickel, copper or molybdenum; or alternatively the core may consist of a ceramic such as aluminum oxide or graphite. The vapor deposited coating may consist of a metal carbide such as tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide or niobium carbide. Alternatively the coating may consist of a metal boride such as titanium diboride.
Description
For the more expensive ball point pens now in use the highest quality balls or spheres consist of tungsten carbide. Such tungsten carbide balls are presently fabricated by means of powder metallurgy. In this technique a suitable powder consisting, for example, of tungsten carbide and cobalt is cold pressed and then heated until the powder sinters or fuses together. In this manner a small ball may be manufactured with a cobalt binder. The resulting ball is still somewhat porous. Hence due to the porosity of the ball and the presence of cobalt in the interstices of the tungsten carbide grains making up the ball the ball can be chemically attacked by the various inks used in ball point pens.
In addition, balls produced by powder metallurgy, as explained hereinabove, are not sufficiently spherical. As a result they require a considerable amount of rough grinding so that they become sufficiently spherical for the finish grinding steps.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a ball suitable for ball point pens which is not porous and has no binder material, hence is substantially immune to chemical attack by the inks used in ball point pens.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball of the type discussed consisting of a core with a coating obtained by chemical vapor deposition and which can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a ball which is particularly suitable for a ball point pen. The ball comprises a core which consists of a refractory material capable of withstanding a temperature in excess of 800° C. (centigrade). The material of the core should also be compatible with the coating. The coating on the core is deposited by chemical vapor deposition so that core and coating have a combined diameter between approximately 0.5 and approximately 1 mm in diameter. The finished product is substantially spherical.
In a preferred embodiment the core consists of tungsten and the vapor deposited coating of tungsten carbide.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a cross-section on enlarged scale of a ball or sphere in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an induction heated fluid bed reactor for the chemical vapor deposition of a coating on the core; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a tumbling reactor which may be used instead for providing the coating on a suitable core.
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown on enlarged scale a substantially spherical ball 10 which is suitable for ball point pens and the like. The ball consists of a core 11 and a coating 12 which has been deposed thereon by chemical vapor deposition.
In order to explain the principles of the present invention a preferred embodiment of the present invention will first be explained, as well as the method of manufacture thereof. Thus by way of example, the core 11 may consist of tungsten obtained, for example, in the form of a powder of approximately 325 mesh. The starting size of such a core of tungsten seed 11 may be between approximately 10 and approximately 100 microns (1 micron=10-6 meter).
Such a ball may, for example, be manufactured in the graphite tube 14 shown in FIG. 2. The graphite tube 14 may be heated inductively by an induction coil 15 as shown. A fluidizing gas is introduced into the bottom portion of the graphite tube 14 through an input tube 16 as shown by the arrow 17. This gas may consist of a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas such as argon, helium or nitrogen. The interior of the graphite tube 14 is partially filled with the tungsten cores or seeds shown at 20. The tube is now heated to a temperature between approximately 500° C. and 950° C.
Now tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) is mixed with a suitable carborizing gas such as methane (CH4), butane (C4 H10), acetylene (C2 H2) or the like. This mixture of tungsten hexafluoride and a carbonizing gas is injected through the input tube 16 into the graphite tube 14, where the gas passes through the suspended seeds 20.
As a result tungsten carbide is chemically vapor deposed on each seed or core of tungsten. A simplified form of the chemical reaction is as follows:
H.sub.2 +WF.sub.6 +CH.sub.4 →WC+6HF (1)
It will be evident that the thickness of the coating depends both on the time the reaction takes place, as well as on the reaction temperature. Thus the particles or cores are allowed to grow until they have reached a predetermined diameter. For example, if the tungsten hexafluoride and carbonizing gas are reacted at 950° C. for six hours the diameter of a sphere may increase from 100 microns to 1 millimeter.
Experiments have shown the balls produced as explained herein have a much higher initial sphericity than balls obtained by a powder metallurgy technique. They, of course do not contain any cobalt and have virtually no porosity. Hence they are basically not subject to chemical attack by the inks used in ball point pens.
The induction heating furnace of FIG. 2 is provided with an exit tube 22 which may be connected to a vacuum pump as shown by the arrow 23.
Alternatively the reaction tumbler of FIG. 3 may be used for the same process. The tumbler consists again of a graphite cylinder 25 surrounded by induction coils 26 for heating the tumbler. The gases are introduced through the inlet tube 27 as shown by arrow 28, while the exit tube 30 connects to a vacuum pump as shown by the arrow 31. The chemical process is otherwise the same except that the cylinder 25 is rotated as indicated by the arrow 33.
This makes it possible to increase the size of the balls after they have reached an initial diameter of say approximately 0.5 millimeter. The tumbling reactor of FIG. 3 has the advantage that it allows plating of a larger number of balls for each batch.
In accordance with the present invention it is not necessary that the core 11 consist of tungsten. Instead it may consist of nickel, copper or molybdenum. Alternatively, the core may consist of a ceramic such as aluminum oxide (AL2 O3) or graphite. The main requirement for the core is that it is capable of withstanding the chemical vapor deposition temperatures which can exceed 900° C. In addition, the core should be compatible with the coating to be deposited.
The coating may consist of a suitable carbide besides tungsten carbide. Among these carbides are niobium carbide, titanium carbide or tantalum carbide. Alternatively, a metal boride may be used such as titanium diboride.
In order to manufacture titanium carbide a temperature of between approximately 800° and approximately 1300° C. may be used. The chemical reaction may proceed as follows:
TiCl.sub.4 +CH.sub.4 →TiC+4HCl (2)
It will be noted that the starting material is titanium tetrachloride.
For tantalum carbide the reaction temperature is between approximately 900° C. and 1400° C. and the reaction is as follows:
TaCl.sub.5 +5/2H.sub.2 +C→TaC+5HCl (3)
In this case again the starting material is tantalum pentachloride.
Similarly for niobium carbide the reaction temperature is between 900° and approximately 1400° C. The chemical reaction is as follows:
NbCl.sub.5 +5/2H.sub.2 +C→NbC+5HCl (4)
The starting material is niobium pentachloride. The carbon (C) in formulas (2) to (5) may again be obtained from a carbonizing gas as mentioned before.
By way of example, it is also possible to start with a core consisting of a nickel sphere of 0.7 mm diameter. The coating may again consist of tungsten carbide and may have a thickness so that the diameter of the finished sphere is somewhat greater than 1 mm corresponding to a pen ball having a diameter of one millimeter.
The thickness of the coating should be in any case no less than 50 microns. It may be necessary to lap or grind the finished ball to insure that it is perfectly spherical. In this case the coating may have to be somewhat thicker to make up for the loss of thickness due to the lapping or grinding.
There has thus been disclosed a method of manufacturing spheres suitable for ball point pens and the resulting product. The spheres of the present invention are characterized by a core covered with a coating obtained by chemical vapor deposition. They are substantially without pores and do not contain cobalt and hence the finished product substantially is not subject to corrosion or other chemical attack by the various inks used in ball point pens.
Claims (19)
1. A ball particularly suitable for a ball point pen and comprising:
(a) a core consisting of a refractory material capable of withstanding a temperature in excess of .Badd..[.800°.]..Baddend. .Iadd.500°.Iaddend. C.; and
(b) a coating on said core, said coating being deposited from the vapor phase by hydrogen reduction of a refractory metal halide, said core and coating having a combined diameter of from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1 mm and being substantially spherical.
2. A ball as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating consists of a metal carbide.
3. A ball as defined in claim 2 wherein said coating consists of tungsten carbide.
4. A ball as defined in claim 2 wherein said coating consists of tantalum carbide.
5. A ball as defined in claim 2 wherein said coating consists of titanium carbide.
6. A ball as defined in claim 2 wherein said coating consists of niobium carbide.
7. A ball as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating consists of a metal boride.
8. A ball as defined in claim 7 wherein said coating consists of titanium diboride.
9. A ball as defined in claim 1 wherein said core consists of a ceramic.
10. A ball as defined in claim 9 wherein said core consists of aluminum oxide.
11. A ball as defined in claim 1 wherein said core consists of a metal.
12. A ball as defined in claim 11 wherein said core consists of tungsten.
13. A ball as defined in claim 11 wherein said core consists of molybdenum.
14. A ball as defined in claim 11 wherein said core consists of copper.
15. A ball as defined in claim 11 wherein said core consists of nickel.
16. A ball as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating has a thickness no less than 50 microns.
17. A .[.sphere.]. .Iadd.ball .Iaddend.particularly suitable for a ball point pen comprising:
(a) a core consisting of tungsten; and
(b) an outer coating consisting of tungsten carbide, said coating being deposited from the vapor phase by the hydrogen reduction of tungsten halide in the presence of a carborizing gas, said ball being substantially spherical and having a diameter between about 0.5 and about 1 mm.
18. A ball as defined in claim 17 wherein said coating has a thickness no less than 50 microns.
19. A ball particularly suitable for a ball point pen and comprising:
(a) a core consisting of a refractory material capable of withstanding a temperature in excess of .Badd..[.800°.]..Baddend. .Iadd.500°.Iaddend. C.; and
(b) a coating on said core, said coating consisting of a substantially pure refractory metal deposited from the vapor phase by hydrogen reduction of a refractory metal halide, said ball having a diameter between approximately 0.5 and approximately 1 mm and being substantially spherical.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/075,611 USRE30626E (en) | 1979-09-14 | 1979-09-14 | Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/075,611 USRE30626E (en) | 1979-09-14 | 1979-09-14 | Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US05/766,880 Reissue US4150905A (en) | 1977-02-09 | 1977-02-09 | Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
USRE30626E true USRE30626E (en) | 1981-05-26 |
Family
ID=22126900
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/075,611 Expired - Lifetime USRE30626E (en) | 1979-09-14 | 1979-09-14 | Spheres obtained by vapor deposition for use in ball point pens |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | USRE30626E (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4980201A (en) * | 1988-03-10 | 1990-12-25 | Central Glass Company, Limited | Method of forming tungsten carbide by chemical vapor deposition |
US5380551A (en) * | 1991-12-13 | 1995-01-10 | At&T Corp. | Vapor deposition process for coating articles of manufacture |
US20090098383A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2009-04-16 | Brown Scott C | Composites and Methods for the Manufacture and Use Thereof |
US8734514B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2014-05-27 | Zimmer, Inc. | Micro-alloyed porous metal having optimized chemical composition and method of manufacturing the same |
US8956683B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2015-02-17 | Zimmer, Inc. | Chemical vapor infiltration apparatus and process |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE829414C (en) * | 1950-09-05 | 1952-01-24 | Schneider G M B H Geb | Refill for ballpoint pen |
FR1060802A (en) * | 1950-10-13 | 1954-04-06 | Biro Patente A G | Improvements to writing instruments |
FR83271E (en) * | 1963-03-15 | 1964-07-17 | Stylograph ball | |
US3503692A (en) * | 1964-11-21 | 1970-03-31 | Sumitomo Electric Industries | Ballpoint pen |
-
1979
- 1979-09-14 US US06/075,611 patent/USRE30626E/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE829414C (en) * | 1950-09-05 | 1952-01-24 | Schneider G M B H Geb | Refill for ballpoint pen |
FR1060802A (en) * | 1950-10-13 | 1954-04-06 | Biro Patente A G | Improvements to writing instruments |
FR83271E (en) * | 1963-03-15 | 1964-07-17 | Stylograph ball | |
US3503692A (en) * | 1964-11-21 | 1970-03-31 | Sumitomo Electric Industries | Ballpoint pen |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4980201A (en) * | 1988-03-10 | 1990-12-25 | Central Glass Company, Limited | Method of forming tungsten carbide by chemical vapor deposition |
US5380551A (en) * | 1991-12-13 | 1995-01-10 | At&T Corp. | Vapor deposition process for coating articles of manufacture |
US20090098383A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2009-04-16 | Brown Scott C | Composites and Methods for the Manufacture and Use Thereof |
US9199394B2 (en) | 2005-01-26 | 2015-12-01 | Southern Research Institute | Method for the manufacturing of a composite |
US8734514B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2014-05-27 | Zimmer, Inc. | Micro-alloyed porous metal having optimized chemical composition and method of manufacturing the same |
US8956683B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2015-02-17 | Zimmer, Inc. | Chemical vapor infiltration apparatus and process |
US9277998B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2016-03-08 | Zimmer, Inc. | Chemical vapor infiltration apparatus and process |
US9398953B2 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2016-07-26 | Zimmer, Inc. | Micro-alloyed porous metal having optimized chemical composition and method of manufacturing the same |
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